It will be fascinating to see how this team comes together. Chemistry can be a fragile thing with so many new critical faces, but you have to like that fact that Zeigler, Mashack and lesser extent Gainey are experienced guys who can instill culture. We are least 9 deep which is one more guy in the rotation better than last year. Offensively while I doubt our starters will average as much as last year (mainly due to DK), I think our bench has capability to average 30 ppg which is far above the 20 ppg our bench had last year. Should have alot more balance offensively and maybe more difficult to gameplan for. Will miss DK when the offense breaks down and he took over but at least we have options. With DK it wasn't just his production #'s, it was his attitude and confidence that may be most difficult to replace. Defensively, on frontcourt we will be better and will have better shot blocking. Backcourt defensively, Lanier just needs to improve alot but it isn't as if he isn't athletic enough as we can assured that Barnes (and Zeigler/Mashack) will force him to be at least decent, much like he did this past year with Knecht.
We will miss the experience in the lineup with JJJ/Vescovi but I think that may be a bit overrated, given production #. We will miss post offense from Aidoo and energy off the bench from Awaka. Knecht has to be replaced by multiple guys who step up because he was a generational offensive talent.
But...
We are deeper. Should be able to run more in transition and still be able to cause stress on defensively for entire game. May be able to dictate pace of the game more due to depth.
We have more accomplished perimeter shooters everywhere (especially at the 4 with both Milicic and Dubar)
I think our rebounding especially on defensive end should be better. May be a wash on offensive end.
Have more size across the board and should improve shot blocking.
Will have better options to backup Zeigler at PG when he needs a blow (personally I think Lanier should get at least 10 minutes here., as he is unselfish)
Should have better scoring off bench as you would expect both Gainey and Carr will both elevate game. (and one of either Milicic, Dubar or Mashack is also coming off the bench and Estrella/Phillips.)
I think we have multiple guys who we can run our halfcourt offense through. Zeigler, Lanier and Milicic (at high post..;he can pass)
High ball screens with various combos (Zeigler/Okpara and Lanier/Milicic) gives us options.
Overall, while we still lack a solid post, I think we are more versatile offensively and can exploit different matchups game to game.
In halfcourt, we have Zeigler and Lanier who will be occupy the middle of the floor at top of the key, orchestrate and be able to create off the bounce, either direction. You have the defensive wing stopper in Mashack who will help mask any deficiencies from Lanier by guarding whomever the opposing teams best wing may be. You have Dubar who will live in the corners beyond the 3 pt line and on the baseline. He can take advantage of bigs at the 4 (from outside) and take advantage of smaller guys at the 3 (in the post).
Milicic, frankly won't be our leading scorer, (I think top 2 will be Lanier and Dubar in any order)), but I think he may have the most NBA upside ability (among the 3 incoming transfer seniors). Guy has a very quick shot from perimeter at 6'10, prepares early with his feet before catching the ball and moves without the ball very well. We can run alot of the same stuff we did with Knecht for him off screens, but I doubt he has an alpha scoring mentality that DK had. Igor I think will be our glue guy because he can really do just about everything pretty well. Opkara is a very quick jumper, especially off 2nd jump and other than rebound, run the floor, block shots, rim runner, screen and catch lobs he isn't going to be asked to be a primary post scorer.
With all the above, if we are better, it will be due to our bench. Estrella, Carr, Gainey, etc..... With spotlight on Carr because he has potential to be the best wing we have. The three things I will be looking at initially is 1) whether Dubar is in the starting lineup at either the 3 (next to Milicic) or at the 4 (next to Mashack). If Dubar is starting, that will tell me that Barnes thinks he provides the "best" offensive punch to replace a % of Knecht's production at forward spot. And 2) will Milicic be the 1st backup to Okpara with minutes at the 5. And 3) how quick is Carr getting on the floor at either the 2 or 3. A lineup of Milicic, Dubar, Carr, Lanier and Zeigler on the floor at the same time would be a ridiculous amount of perimeter shooters.
If guys play up to their capabilities, younger guys improve, we continue to be among top 10 defensively, play with confidence when game isn't going your way (DK bailed us out so many times this past year) and embrace sacrificing for the team's best interests, UT can win the SEC again, which would be the first time we went back-to-back conference champions since the 40's. We definitely have the lineup, on paper, to win it.
We will miss the experience in the lineup with JJJ/Vescovi but I think that may be a bit overrated, given production #. We will miss post offense from Aidoo and energy off the bench from Awaka. Knecht has to be replaced by multiple guys who step up because he was a generational offensive talent.
But...
We are deeper. Should be able to run more in transition and still be able to cause stress on defensively for entire game. May be able to dictate pace of the game more due to depth.
We have more accomplished perimeter shooters everywhere (especially at the 4 with both Milicic and Dubar)
I think our rebounding especially on defensive end should be better. May be a wash on offensive end.
Have more size across the board and should improve shot blocking.
Will have better options to backup Zeigler at PG when he needs a blow (personally I think Lanier should get at least 10 minutes here., as he is unselfish)
Should have better scoring off bench as you would expect both Gainey and Carr will both elevate game. (and one of either Milicic, Dubar or Mashack is also coming off the bench and Estrella/Phillips.)
I think we have multiple guys who we can run our halfcourt offense through. Zeigler, Lanier and Milicic (at high post..;he can pass)
High ball screens with various combos (Zeigler/Okpara and Lanier/Milicic) gives us options.
Overall, while we still lack a solid post, I think we are more versatile offensively and can exploit different matchups game to game.
In halfcourt, we have Zeigler and Lanier who will be occupy the middle of the floor at top of the key, orchestrate and be able to create off the bounce, either direction. You have the defensive wing stopper in Mashack who will help mask any deficiencies from Lanier by guarding whomever the opposing teams best wing may be. You have Dubar who will live in the corners beyond the 3 pt line and on the baseline. He can take advantage of bigs at the 4 (from outside) and take advantage of smaller guys at the 3 (in the post).
Milicic, frankly won't be our leading scorer, (I think top 2 will be Lanier and Dubar in any order)), but I think he may have the most NBA upside ability (among the 3 incoming transfer seniors). Guy has a very quick shot from perimeter at 6'10, prepares early with his feet before catching the ball and moves without the ball very well. We can run alot of the same stuff we did with Knecht for him off screens, but I doubt he has an alpha scoring mentality that DK had. Igor I think will be our glue guy because he can really do just about everything pretty well. Opkara is a very quick jumper, especially off 2nd jump and other than rebound, run the floor, block shots, rim runner, screen and catch lobs he isn't going to be asked to be a primary post scorer.
With all the above, if we are better, it will be due to our bench. Estrella, Carr, Gainey, etc..... With spotlight on Carr because he has potential to be the best wing we have. The three things I will be looking at initially is 1) whether Dubar is in the starting lineup at either the 3 (next to Milicic) or at the 4 (next to Mashack). If Dubar is starting, that will tell me that Barnes thinks he provides the "best" offensive punch to replace a % of Knecht's production at forward spot. And 2) will Milicic be the 1st backup to Okpara with minutes at the 5. And 3) how quick is Carr getting on the floor at either the 2 or 3. A lineup of Milicic, Dubar, Carr, Lanier and Zeigler on the floor at the same time would be a ridiculous amount of perimeter shooters.
If guys play up to their capabilities, younger guys improve, we continue to be among top 10 defensively, play with confidence when game isn't going your way (DK bailed us out so many times this past year) and embrace sacrificing for the team's best interests, UT can win the SEC again, which would be the first time we went back-to-back conference champions since the 40's. We definitely have the lineup, on paper, to win it.
